I Was Told There'd Be Cake

Essays

From despoiling an exhibit at the Natural History Museum to provoking the ire of her first boss to siccing the cops on her mysterious neighbor, Crosley can do no right despite the best of intentions--or perhaps because of them. Together, these essays create a startlingly funny and revealing portrait of a complex and utterly recognizable character that's aiming for the stars but hits the ceiling, and the inimitable city that has helped shape who she is.--From publisher description.

"Many times, the only reason I show up is for promised food, so this title grabbed me right off. Sloan Crosley writes modern living in such a way that I no longer drink any beverage while listening or reading her, or it's sure to come out my nose." - Seana

Wry, hilarious, and profoundly genuine, this debut collection of literary essays is a celebration of fallibility and haplessness in all their glory. Together, these essays create a startlingly funny and revealing portrait of a complex and utterly recognizable character that's aiming for the stars... Read More »

Offers a humorous look at human fallibility and the vagaries of modern urban life by detailing such offbeat situations as the despoiling of an exhibit at the Natural History Museum, the provocation of a boss, and siccing the cops on a mysterious neighbor.

From the critics

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This book amused me. With the exception of one rambly essay that lost its own point long before the end, each essay has a high dose of humor, mainly self-deprecating and earnest. One was stuffed so full of puns it went from funny to annoying. But there were both the standard "my family is so wacky" ones and the "here's something real and poignant and wise, wrapped in a brocade of funny".

Overall, it's a quick read that I think most people in their 30s can relate to (I'm guessing especially if you live in NYC). Sloane Crosley comes across as the kind of gal you'd be friends with, out of mutual understand that friendship at this age means an email once a year, if nothing else.

Actually, her observations about life at this age (while not overtly about life at this age) were painfully honest and very relatable. So although I wasn't entertained enough to give it a full A rating, it's a good book to gift your girlfriends.

I'm not sure why bitterness is a bad quality in writing. I found it bracing, rather than off putting. As others have said, Sloane Crosley's debut collection of essays has echoes of Sedaris and Vowell and the whole NPR/This American Life school of personal essays. Her piece on attending a high school friend's wedding, "You on a Stick," is the highlight. And, yes, she does address the inevitable "Ferris Bueller" question. Followed by "How Did You Get This Number."

I, too, found tone bitter and full of sarcasm to the point where it begins to wear on you. As far as one night stands are concerned, has she never read Fear of Flying by Erica Jung? I ended up not finishing the book in that it was more of the same I felt: snide comments, carping tone - why bother though one wonders why someone so young is so bitter. What is she not telling us in, other words, about why she arrived at the attitude she did about sex especially.

Grafreak
Feb 12, 2016

My rating is just based on personal taste. This book just wasn't my cup of tea. I personally found it too tinged with bitterness and a negative vibe. But her style is very engaging and I found the book overall well-written.

A funny collection of humorous essays and a fast, breezy read. I found some of Crosley's recollections and experiences to be dead on and hilarious, while others fell short. Overall I enjoyed this book.

This is a brilliant and funny collection of essays that had me laughing out loud at the twists and turns in Crosley's life. Of particular note, the essay on being a Jewish girl at a Christian camp. The flaming maxi-pad scene still makes me laugh.